Photo courtesy Jakers, Wikipedia

The biggest question we’ve gotten this week—seriously—is from fans of Poly and St. Anthony wondering what the heck to do in Bakersfield this weekend, when not watching state championship basketball.  We figured since we’re going to be there too, we might as well put together a mini-guide about a few things to check out.  Of course, your best option is to camp out at the Rabobank Arena for the ten games being played on Friday and Saturday.  Tickets will be $18 a day for adults, and $10 a day for high school students (both Poly and St. Anthony play on Saturday, the Saints at 9:30am, and Poly at 6pm).

If you’re staying downtown, near the Arena (in either the Marriott attached, or the more affordable Best Western a few blocks away), the travel guides recommend the 19th Street/Wall Street area; it’s a little north and a little west, but should be walkable from the Arena for anyone who wants to grab pizza, Chinese, or fancier fare while waiting for a game.  For art lovers, the Bakersfield Museum of Art is about four blocks north of the Arena, and is adjacent to Bakersfield’s Central Park, which has free wifi and a creek that runs through it. 

If you’re more of a history buff, the Hotel Padre is a well-designed historical landmark, and the Fox Theatre, which opened in 1930 and is still screening movies and hosting shows today.  If you want to catch a new movie, all the theaters seem to be a bit of a hike, but the Edwards Bakersfield Stadium 14, way out west, seems to be the most popular choice locally.

If anyone has specific food or entertainment locations for near the Arena or throughout the city, please go ahead and post them below!  We aren’t set on dining or entertainment plans ourselves for Friday night, so we’d love some help.